The advent of digital technologies is making science and innovation more open, collaborative and global. In their report, RISE stresses that a successful shift towards Open Science and Open Innovation will substantially increase the economic and social impact of research and innovation. The benefits would be further increased if science and innovation is 'Open to the World', by accessing the latest knowledge and best talent worldwide.

Commissioner Moedas said: "Making our science and innovation more open and international will help Europe respond to the challenges of globalisation and social sustainability that the Commission has recently highlighted. I am grateful to the members of the RISE group for their thoughts and ideas which will contribute to my political agenda of Open Science, Open Innovation and Open to the World and encourage a broad reflection and debate throughout Europe on the economic and societal policy rationale for an open EU Research and Innovation strategy."

The main points made by the RISE group are that:

A shift to Open Innovation, Open Science and Open to the World would help reinforce the link between knowledge and innovation, if it is supported by a new policy vision. This would imply allowing for experimentation with ways to promote greater openness in research and innovation bringing together citizens, researchers, innovative companies and public authorities in a common project for the benefit of all.

Openness can be a valuable policy to help tackle societal challenges, including achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Traditionally, public support has focused on the supply of new technology through research. Public investment should also be coordinated with efforts to stimulate demand from markets and users by involving them in the design and development of innovative ways to address those challenges.

Openness should be viewed as an inclusive policy that can further develop the concept of 'commons' beyond established areas such as open access to research results and open data, citizen science and integrity in research to maintain public trust. Open science also includes openness with respect to how knowledge is absorbed, developed and refined at local and global levels, through which new value is being created. The RISE group also emphasised the role of people as drivers of innovation.

Openness also means possibilities for experimenting with innovation at a local level, for creating new markets and for improving regulation.

The book will act as the basis for further reflection and debate with experts and stakeholders on the economic and societal policy rationale for an open EU Research and Innovation strategy.

Background

On the RISE Group:

The high level expert group of Research, Innovation and Science Policy Experts (RISE) was set up in 2014 to advise and support the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation on the formulation and implementation of policies under his remit. RISE also provides insights into how research and innovation can best contribute to economic growth that is smart, sustainable, and socially inclusive. The report 'Europe’s future: Open Innovation, Open Science, Open to the World' is presented to Commissioner Moedas and discussed at a workshop in Brussels on 15 May 2017 hosted by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

On Open Innovation, Open Science and Open to the World:

The basic premise of Open Innovation is to open up the innovation process to all active players so that knowledge can circulate more freely and be transformed into products and services that create new markets, fostering a stronger culture of entrepreneurship. Open Science represents a new approach to the scientific process based on cooperative work and new ways of diffusing knowledge by using digital technologies and new collaborative tools. Being Open to the World means striving to ensure that EU research and innovation can work at a global level for everybody. More information on "the three Os", the priorities set by Commissioner Moedas for EU research and innovation policy, is available online.